Box-lid holder and advertising device



Dec. 27, 1927.

J. C. L. CLAYTON BOX LID HOLDER AND ADVERTISING DEVICE Filed Aug. 5, 1926 amvewtoz J C. L. Clayton Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

JOHN c. L. CLAYTON, or eanvnsron, TEXAS.

BOX-LID HOLDER AND ADVERTISING DEVICE.

Application filed August 3, 1926. Serial No. 126,888.

This invention is a device for holding the lid of a cigar boxor similar merchandise container in open position flat against the back of the box so that it may be utilized as a support for maintaining the box in an inclined position upon a counter or a show.

case. The invention also provides means for displaying, in connection with the box, an advertising card identifying the goods and stating the. price of the same or giving other information, in the discretion of the storekeeper', The invention seeks to provide a simple and inexpensive device which may be readily applied to acontainer and furnish means whereby the container may be taken from or restored to a show case to supply a customer and maintain the goods in a sanitary condition. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and will be hereinafter fully set forth.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container having my improved device applied thereto and arranged to facilitate removal of the container;

'lli, 2 is a transverse section of the device as shown in Fig. 1 and illustrating by dotted lines a different position of the card holder;

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view.

In the drawing, the reference numeral 1 indicates a cigar box or like container having a lid 2 which is hingedly attached to the back wall of the container at the upper edge of the same so that it may be folded back flat against the back wall and extend below the bottom of the container to permitthe container to be supported in an inclined position by being rested upon the free edge of the lid and the lower front cornerof the box, as shown in Fig. 1. My lid holder comprises a clip 3 having aback plate 4 which is adapted to rest flat against the lid and is provided at its lower edge with perforated ears 5, said ears being preferably slightly effect, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, whereby they will project somewhat from the lid. Extending from the upper edge of the back plate is a bridge piece 6 of proper dimensions to extend across the upper edge of the lid and the upper edge of the back wall of the box, as shown in Fig. 2, and depending from the front edge of this bridgingplate are teeth or spurs 7 adapted to extend downwardlv within the box a short distance and enclose themselves somewhat in the back wall,

as nearly in Fig, Thisclip will.

be formed of spring metal so that it may be easily slipped over the edges of the lid and the wall of the box and bring the teeth into engagement with the box wall so that acci-' dental release of the clip is not apt to occur.

Attached to the perforated ears 5 are the upper ends of coiled springs 8 which extend downwardly therefrom over the lid and have their lower ends engaged in similar perforated ears 9 at the upper end of an anchor ing member 10. This anchoring member consists of a plate of spring metal doubled upon itself. as shown at 11, whereby it may be engaged over the free edge of the lid, and terminating in a ring or sleeve 12. The bend or bight 11 of this anchoring member may, if desired, be covered with felt, rubber or other material which will prevent slipping of the device upon a glass shelf or the glass top of a show case and also prevent scratching or other marring of apolished surface.

In applying the device, the clip 3 is engaged over the upper edges of the lid and the box wall, as described and shown, and suff cient tension is then exerted upon the springs 8 to permit the ring or sleeve 12 to clear the lower edge of the lid, whereupon, 1f the pull upon the springs be released, the springs will at once contract and draw the anchoring member into engagement with the ,lKl, as shown in Flgs. 1

and 2, so that the device will be securely held in place. In thus applying the device, the finger of the operator may be engaged in the sleeve or ring 12 to be protected thereby. Of course, if preferred, the anchoring plate may be first engaged with the free edge of the lid and the clip then drawn into position.

At the junction of the back plate 4 and vthe-bridging member 6, upstanding lugs 13 are formed thereon and through the said lugs 1s mserted a pintle or pivot pin 14.

Matingwith the lugs 13 .-;;,and mounted on.

the pintle or pivot pin are similar lugs 15 formed on the side edges of the base portion 16 of a lifter and card holder. The said base portion 16 has one endprojected angularly beyond the lugs 15 to form a lip 17 disposed so that, in theposition illustrated in full lines upon the drawing, it will bear against the back plate 4 and constitute a stop to dispose'the lifter in a position extending upwardly and rearwardly from the tamer when the latter. is

lasingremoved tainerancl support the weight'of the con 1 from or -placed in a show case. Extending upwardly and rearwardly from the base member 16 1s the handle or lever portion 18 of the lifter which maybogivennny desired contourand may be a continuous solid plate, but will preferably be of the open,loop: format-ion shown in the drawing having its out er edges rolled to provide re-entrant. flanges 19 adapted to receive a card 20. The card 20 may, of coursefbc of any suitable mate rial and wilt be sprung or pushed into ongagement with the flanges 19 so as to be retained thereby, and, to further assist in re taining the card in place, a stop tongue 21 is struck up from the material of theflifter to engage over the lower edge of the card, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Any desired inscriptions may be placed upon the card 20, such as the name of the cigar, the price of the same, and the dealersname or matter descriptive of the qualities of the cigar. When theplate is an integral uninterru 'ited structure, the advertising matter. may be printed or otherwise displayed directly thereon, but I prefer the loop formation with re-entrant flanges inasmuch as this construction permits the cards to be changed at will so that, when allthe cigars or other articles have been sold from one container. the device may be removed from the empty container and applied to another filledcontainer. The advertising matter may be displayed upon both faces of the card and when the box iswithinthe show case or is at rest upon the counter or shelf, the lifter may be swung forwardly, as indicated by the dotted lines inFig. 2, so that it will project over the top of the box or container and, therefore, will offer no obstruction to a view of a secondrear container. It willbe observed that, when the litter is swung forward, the front face of the base portion 16 will rest upon the bridging member 6 otthe clip and will be supported thereby whilethe stop lip 17 will extend upwardly and will serve asa lever or trip to be engaged by the fingers of the salesman to swing the lifter to the position illustrated in full lines, enabling the salesman to easily lift and control the box which is to be withdrawn from the show case.

When a box is tobe withdrawn from a showcase, a sligl rt pressure exerted upon the l p- 17 will rock the device to the position shown in Fig. 1 and in full lines in Fig. 2

so that it may be easily grasped by thesalesmans hand. When the container is returned to the show case, the device maybe easily swung over tothe position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 in which position itwill be out of the way of other containers and will plainly display the advertising matter.

The device isexceedinglysimple in construction an'dmay be produced at a low cost I so i that: it in ay be: furnished to retail dealers which permits the salesman to move the boxes from and lo the show case or display position without any fatiguing strain upon the wrist, fingers or hand.

Having thus described the invention, 1 claim: 1 v

1. A device forthe purpose set forth com prising aclip to engage over the top edges of the back wall of a box and flat against said well, an anchoring member engageable over the free edge of the folded lid more remotefrom the hinged edge, and a yieldable connection between the clip and the anchoring member, said connection 931- tending over the lid and tending constantly to draw the clip and the anchoring mem ber toward each other and maintain the on gagement ot' the same with the lid.

2. A device for the purpose set forth comprising aclip including a back plate adapted to rest against the back of a box lid, a bridging member adapted to extend across the hinged edge of the lid andthe back wall of a box to which thelid is attached and wall-engaging spurs depending from the edge of the bridging; member to engage the box wall, an anchoring member engageable over the free edge of the lid'more remote from thehinged edge thereof, and a yieldable connection between the anchoringmem her and the back plate of the clip drawing each other to maintain their engagement with the lid. 1 i

v 3. A device for the purposeset forth comprising a clip engageable over the hinged edges of a box wall anda lid to hold the lid flat. against the box wall, an anchoring member consisting of a spring plate doubled upon itself to engage over the free edge of the lid more remote fromthe hinged edge thereof and terminating in afinger receiving element at the front side of the lid, and a yieldable connection between the anchoring member and the clip.

4. A; devicefor the purpose set, forth com prising a clip engageable over the connected edges ot a box wall and a lid to hold the lid flat against the walland having offset perforated-rears at the lower endot its outer por 'tion, a substantially U-shaped anchoring member engageable over the free edge of the 11d and provided: with otfsettperforated ears a lid folded lltl at its upper end, and contractile springs having their ends engaged in the respective perforated ears.

5. A device for the purpose set forth comprising a clip engageable over the edge portions of a box Wall and a lid folded flat against the same, and a display handle mem ber pivotally mounted upon the clip to extend rearwardly therefrom or forwardly thereover and having a rigid terminal portion adapted in one position of the handle member to form a stop bearing against the clip to resist relative movement of the handle member whenlifting the box and in another position of the handle member to extend upwardly from the clip and constitute a finger lever.

6. A device for the purpose set forth comprising a clip engageable over a box wall and a lid folded fiat against the box wall, and a handle member pivotally mounted uponthe clip and comprising a plate adapted to extend rearwardly from or forwardly over the clip and a rigid terminal member in angular relation to the plates adapted to bear against the rear side of the clip or to project upwardly therefrom, the plate being constructed to receive and hold an advertising card.

7. A device for the purpose set forth comprising a clip engageable over the edges of a box Wall and a lid folded flat against the box wall, and a display handle member consisting of a plate having a base portion pivotally mounted upon the clip and having a rigid terminal portion at and in angular relation to the base portion adapted to in one position rest against the rear of the clip and in another position to extend upwardly therefrom, the main portion of the plate extending rearwardly from the clip parallel to the plane thereof in the first-mentioned position and resting on the top of the clip and extending over the box in thesecond-mentioned position.

8. A device for the purpose set forth comprising a clip engageable over adjoining edges of a box wall and a lid folded against said wall, an anchoring member engageable over the free side edge of the lid, an extensible connection between the clip and the anchoring member whereby closing of the lid and release of the clip and anchoring member therefrom will be resisted, a display plate hinged to the clip to extend forwardly over the same or project rearwardly therefrom, and. a rigid stop fixed to the plate at the hinged end thereof to extend angularly therefrom and bear upon the back of the clip whereby to prevent relative movement of the plate when lifting the box.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN C. L. CLAYTON. [n s1 

